Transforming the Narrative: How Strategic Advocacy is Rewriting Kano State’s Noncommunicable Disease Story

In a country where noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) have historically struggled to gain sufficient policy and financial attention, Kano State is emerging as a compelling example of what deliberate, data-driven advocacy can achieve. The Kano State Hypertension Advocacy Initiative (KHAI), a project implemented by the Gammun Centre for Care and Development Nigeria (GCCDN) in collaboration with the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI), Kano State Ministry of Health, Resolve to Save Lives and Project Hope, is steadily reshaping the landscape of NCD financing and service delivery. What was once a marginal budget line has now become a focal point for measurable health system improvements, demonstrating that sustained advocacy can translate into real, life-saving outcomes.

The most striking evidence of this transformation lies in the State’s 2025 budget performance. Kano State recorded a remarkable 233% increase in its “Control of Noncommunicable Diseases” budget line—rising from ₦150,000,000 (about $108,000) to ₦500,000,000 (about $362,000). This leap is not merely symbolic. It reflects a shift in political will and prioritization. More importantly, the state moved beyond nominal allocations to actual implementation, releasing and utilizing 25% of the budget. This marks a significant improvement from pre-advocacy years, where less than 10% of allocated funds were typically disbursed. The transition from low release rates to meaningful utilization signals stronger accountability mechanisms and a growing recognition of the urgency of NCD control as the State approved the same 2025 budget amount   in the 2026 Appropriations Act.

Crucially, these financial gains have translated into tangible improvements in healthcare delivery. With the newly mobilized resources, hypertension services have expanded dramatically—from just 52 Primary Healthcare Centers (PHCs) to 360 PHCs across the state. This scale-up represents a strategic decentralization of care, bringing essential hypertension services closer to communities and reducing access barriers. The outcomes are already evident: blood pressurecontrol rates improved from 49% to 62%, while the proportion of patients with uncontrolled blood pressure declined from 17% to 11%, according to the Kano State Ministry of Health’s 2025 NCD Scorecard. These are not just statistics—they represent thousands of individuals now living healthier, more stable lives due to improved access to quality care.

At its core, the KHAI project exemplifies how targeted advocacy can influence the entire public financial management cycle—from appropriation to disbursement and ultimately to effective utilization. By engaging policymakers, strengthening civil society voices and leveraging data for decision-making, the initiative has helped institutionalize a more responsive and accountable approach to NCD financing in Kano State. It has also demonstrated that improving health outcomes is not solely a function of increased funding, but of ensuring that allocated resources are efficiently deployed where they are most needed.

Kano State’s progress offers a replicable model for other states in Nigeria and beyond. It underscores the importance of sustained engagement, evidence-based advocacy and multi-stakeholder collaboration in addressing the growing burden of NCDs. As the KHAI project continues its work, the State stands as a testament to what is possible when advocacy moves beyond rhetoric and drives systemic change. The narrative is no longer one of neglect, but of momentum, accountability and measurable impact. 

This important work is completed in close coordination with the Resolve to Save Lives Cardiovascular Health initiative.